Language In Islamic Perspective

Language is the sound system used for human communication. Humans use language to express or tell what in their mind. Wardhaugh said that language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols used for human communication. Language is the gift from our God that we must be thankful for it.

In Islam, we know that language is the grace from Allah that we must be grateful. It is the capabilty of humans and becomes arbitrator between humans. That's why Allah says in Holy Quran that, the language is one of His signs. Allah asked us to see language just as a “communication tool”. So, language is just a communication tool to express our thoughts.

There are large number of languages in this world use for communication between people. Even the difference in skin colour is also the signs of Allah. The differences in language and skin colour have been confirmed in the Qur’an.

And among the signs of His power is the creation of the heavens and the earth and diverse language and skin color. Surely, with that situation actually there are signs for people who know (Ar-Rum:22).

Every religions and scientists have their own opinion abaout the origin of language. Islam has its own perspective. Humans can use language because Allah tought it to the first human being, he is Adam AS.

And He taught Adam all the names (of everything) then He showed them to the angles and said, “Tell Me the names of these if you are truthful.” (Al – Baqarah:31)

This Ayat explains that Allah taught names to Adam, which can be told as the part of language symbols. There is no explanation how Allah thaught Adam about these names. The principal thing is Adam, who is the first human being, learned about language with the teaching and learning proces and without any automatical tools. However, whether Arabic became the language used by the first Adam and Eve, the statement can not be proven, and have not found an authentic evidence in the Qur’an.

Language is the media of da’wah for every muslims, so that every prophet was sent to his people by using the people’s language.

We never sent a prohet, but with the language of his people, so that he can explain clearly to them. So God astray whom He pleases, and gives guidance to whom He will. and He is God Almighty, the Wise (QS. Ibrahim:4).

We know that Arabic language is the part of Islam, but if we think arabic is the only language Allah & Muslim have, then Allah should have sent all the Prophets with Arabic language as their mother tongue and all the Holy books in Arabic language. But in the above Quranic verse, Allah confirms that He has sent each prophets with the language of the people for which they have been sent for. For the example, Allah sent Prophet Moosa AS to Egypt whose language is Hebrew. The important thing in this case is language, which helps in communicating between people. If Allah sends Prophet who speaks Arabic to Egyptian, then the people will not understand his preachings.

Language which is the evidence of human intelligence becomes characteristic of humans selves. This skill can not be found among the creatures except humans. Allah create humans with their capability in speaking language.

3. He created man 4. He taught him eloquent speech (Ar-Rahman:3-4)

We can take a summary from those Ayahs, the simple meaning of Al-Bayan is the speaking skill and capability to explain something and the idealist meaning of Al-Bayan is communication tools for human. Mind, thought, hearing, sight, mouth, larynx, parynx, tongue, and so on are are the tools to speak humans language. As Allah said in Al-Qur’an:

And Allah has brought you out from the wombs of your mothers while you know nothing. And He gave you hearing, sight, and hearts that you might give thanks (to Allah) (An-Nahl:78).

So, even the animals can produce any kinds of sounds and immitate human’s sound, but for animals they just produce limited sound and do not use thoughts as human. Their sounds can be told as the language. But humans can produce the sounds that appropiate with principle of language.